Machine for operating upon the end portions of shoes



F. .J. BETTER m MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON THE END PORTIONS OF SHOES Warmth L,

Filed May 15, 1935 Patented Mar. 31, 1936 arse STATES amass PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR. OPERATING UPON THE END PORTIONS OF SHOES Application May 15, 1935, Serial No. 21,631

19 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for working the end portions of shoe upper over their lasts and, as illustrated herein, is embodied in a machine ior working the foreparts of stitchdown shoe uppers into lasted position and for pressing the outturned flanges thereof against the projecting margins of the soles.

Objects of the invention are to improve and perfect machines of this type such, for example, as that disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,955,730, granted April 24, 1934, in the name of William C. Baxter. More specifically, objects of the invention are to apply pressure to the upper to hold it against the last before the lasting operation begins, to maintain said pressure while the machine is at rest with the outturned flange of the shoe upper and the projecting margin of its sole under pressure, and to relieve said pressure just prior to the relief of the pressure upon the flange and sole.

Further objects of the invention are to adapt the machine for lasting uppers over lasts the sides of which are undercut.

In the illustrative machine, as in prior machines, the shoe, including the projecting margin of the sole, rests on the shoe support and lasting means, such as end-embracing wipers which have advancing and closing movement, are provided, the shoe support and wipers being relatively movable heightwise of the shoe to effect the shaping of the upper to the contour of the last and the pressing of the outturned flange thereof against the projecting margin of the sole, the Wipers being positively advanced after the relative heightwise movement between the wipers and shoe support has ceased to work the fold of the upper in the angle between the side of the last and the projecting margin of the sole slightly under the last bottom, the shoe being allowed to remain in this condition for a time, for instance while another shoe is being lasted, in order that the upper may become set in lasted position.

In accordance with the present invention, means is provided for clamping the upper against the last prior to the relative movement of the wipers and the shoe support so that the upper cannot become bridge-d from the toe to the throat of the vamp, due to the tension applied to the upper during the lasting operation, and said pressure is maintained substantially throughout the period during which the wipers andshoe support remain in pressing relation to the outturned flange of the upper and theprojecting margin of the sole, means being provided, for example a treadle by which the machine is restarted, for relieving the pressure from the toe of the shoe just prior to the relief of pressure upon the flange and sole. 5

Another feature of the invention consists in means which may be rendered operative at will for effecting advancing and closing movements of the wipers earlier in the cycle of the machine, that is, during the relative heightwise movement between the wipers and the shoe support, the amount of such earlier movement being variable to include any part of or the full movement of the wipers. The organization is such that the portion of the wiper movements which do not occur earlier in the cycle occur later and at the usual time, that is, after the relative movement between the wipers and the shoe support is substantially completed. This construction adapts the machine for use under conditions of work where the sides of the last overhang the bottom portion of the last, that is, where the sides of the last are undercut adjacent to the last bottom. By causing a portion of the wiper movement, depending upon the amount of undercut of the last, to occur earlier in the cycle, that is, while there is a substantial space between the wipers and the outwardly projecting margin of the sole, the wipers are made to conform the upper to the undercut portion of the sides of the last and to be located above fastenings, such as staples, which may have been previously applied to hold the upper shaped to the last at certain portions of the toe, so that when the final movement of the wipers occurs the wipers will slide over the top of the staples and not disturb or injure the-m.

Preferably and as illustrated herein, the relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the wipers is caused to cease during those portions of the cycle when the advancing and closing movements of the wipers are occurring.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The figure of the drawing is a side elevation, partly in section, of a machine embodying the present invention.

In general organization the machine is similar to that disclosed in the above-mentioned patent and hence its construction will be described rather generally since reference may be had to gin of the sole.

said patent for explanation of structural details not herein fully set forth.

A frame it carries bearings for a main shaft l2 upon which is mounted a clutch disk It having a cam track 55 in one face thereof. A stop projection 23 on the clutch disk M is arranged to engage a stop arm 22 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 2-3 supported on the frame of the machine and has a forwardly projecting arm which carries a tripping pin 26. The pin 26 is slabbed off at its front side and cooperates with a vertical bar 28 having an elongated notch 38 which engages the tripping pin. The bar 28 is connected to a treadle and when the treadle is depressed the upper end of the notch 39 will, after a certain amount of lost motion, engage the pin 26 and, by lifting the stop arm 22 from engagement with the projection 29, will permit the clutch to engage and the machine to start. After the machine starts, the bar 28 is pushed forwardly by a projection on. the periphery of the clutch disk i l to free the notch 3 3 from the pin 26, thus allowing the stop arm 22 to drop back into position and, after a half revolution of the clutch disk i l, to engage a projection 3 opposite to the projection 25 thereby stopping the machine with the outwardly projecting margins of the upper and sole under pressure between the wipers and the shoe; support, as will be described. The clutch operates to connect the clutch disk Hi to a gear 36 and to disconnect it therefrom, the gear 36 being continuously driven through reducing gearing by a motor 38. The clutch mechanism employed may be similar to that disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,674,085, granted June 19, 1928, on an application of Ballard and Seely, to which reference may be had for a further explanation of that part of the machine.

The shoe support comprises a plate shaped like the forepart of the bottom of a shoe and large enough to support the forepart of the shoe bottom, including the outwardly projecting mar- The plate ll) is secured to a block 42 mounted upon the upper end of a shaft 45 which is arranged for longitudinal movement in an elongated bearing extending upwardly and rearwardly at a slight inclination to the vertical and formed in the frame it) of the machine. The shaft 36, together ith the block 62 and shoe support 49, is arranged to be moved upwardly by power of the machine and for this purpose it is connected at its lower end to toggle links 52, 5:3. The upper toggle link 52 is pivotally connected to a sliding block 43 which is freely movable in a slot in the lower end of the shaft being prevented from displacement by a strap 58 extending about the lower end of the shaft. The toggle links 52, 5d are operated by a cam bar 55 which is forked to embrace a collar on the main shaft i2 and is provided with a cam roll 58 running in the cam track 55 formed in the clutch disk Hi. The lower end of the toggle 54 is supported by an adjustable abutment 69 which is upheld by a heavy spring, as more fully disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,861,832, granted June 7, 1932, on application of W. C. Baxter. The initial heightwise position of the shoe support '58 is determined by a stop screw 62 projecting downwardly from a bracket G4 which is formed as part of the block 42 on which the support 45 rests, the said screw 62 being arranged to engage the frame it when the work support is in its lowest position. The lost motion provided for the block 43 in the lower end of the shaft 46 permits initial heightwlse adjustment for the support 40 by means of the screw 62 and also permits the adjustment of the abutment 5!! to vary the initial pressure which will be exerted on the shoe parts when the toggle 52, 54 is straightened. An abutment 56 for the rear end of the shoe is provided which may be initially set at a short distance from the rear end of the shoe to permit ready insertion of shoes of the size being operated upon and which, by depression of the treadle 32, is moved to engage the shoe and is held against the shoe at first by the treadle and later by power operation of the machine, the construction and operation of this portion of the machine being fully disclosed in the Baxter Patent No. 1,955,730 referred to above.

The machine is provided with end-embracing means or wipers 18 which preferably, as disclosed in the last-mentioned patent, are vertically stationary and are arranged for advancing and closing movement. Two means for advancing and closing the wipers are provided, one means being the handwheel 12 by which the wipers may be advanced and closed to correspond to the size and shape of the toe end of the last of the shoe being operated upon and the other means being a positively power-operated lever 15 by which a predetermined amount of advancing and closing movement may be imparted to the wipers. I

The amount of such predetermined advancing and closing movement is determined by the setting of screw 14 carried by the upper end of the lever F5. The lever 16 is pivoted to the machine frame at T8 and carries at its lower end a roll mounted on the pin 82 and engaging an edge cam 84 on the clutch disk l4, said edge cam having a rise or projection 86 which, upon engagement with the roll 80, operates the lever to advance and close the wipers in. By the organization above described, the advancing and closing movement of the wipers will occur after the outturned flange of the upper is pressed firmly against the projecting margin of the sole. While machines thus organized are satisfactory for the general run of stitchdown work, it is found that some manufacturers employ lasts the sides of which recede inwardly in the region next to the last bottom, that is, the sides of the last are undercut. Under such conditions fastenings used preliminarily to fasten the upper to the sole in pulled-over condition are located under the overhang of the last and hence wipers set to correspond to the largest outline of the last will, upon movement of the shoe support,

engage the upper outside of the fastenings and, when the wipers are advanced and closed wit the upper and sole under pressure between them and the shoe support, they will engage and shear off or otherwise injure the preliminary fastenings. The construction about to be described provides means for causing the wiper advancing and closing movement to occur earlier in the cycle, that is, before the shoe support is fully raised, whereby the wipers are caused to close in under the overhang of the last and be located on top of the preliminary fastenings when their final advancing and closing: movement occurs, thus avoiding injury to the preliminary fastenings and effecting a better lasting operation.

For this purpose there is pivoted upon the pin 82 which carries the roll 88 a lever 93 the lower end of which carries a roll 92 similar to the roll 89 and the upper arm of whi h carries a screw 9t arranged to engage a face on the lever 76 and to provide means for adjusting the lever 90 about its fulcrum 32. It will be seen that by adjusting the screw 66 the roll 92 may be moved toward and away from the cam 34 and that when adjusted toward the cam but not into contact with it, the projection :36 of the cam 84 will first engage the roll 92, producing a partial advancing and closing movement of the wipers, and that later in the cycle the projection 86 will engage the roll to and complete the advancing and closing movement of the wipers.

In order that the operator may readily ascertain what position the roll $2 is made to assume by turning the screw 95, an indicator 95 is provided which cooperates with a scale 91! secured to a casing 99 hinged to the machine frame. The indicator 95 is formed on the outer end of a bar iii! having between its ends a slot engaging a pin ill-i fixed in the lever 9%. The inner end of the bar ldl is pivoted at M5 to the lever 76 at such a point that the bar MM is in angular relation to the path of movement of the pin I03 due to movement of the lever 99 so that the bar will move about its pivot ltd as the screw 94 is operated to adjust the lever 98 relatively to the lever 76. As shown, when the roll 92 is adjusted away from. the cam 8:3 far enough so that the projection 86 will not move it, the indicator 95 will be at the upper or zero end of the scale Thus, by adjusting the screw S l any portion of the advancing and closing movements of the wipers may be caused to occur earlier in the cycle, that is, before the work support 40 is completely raised, and the remainder of those movements will occur when the movement of the work support has been substantially completed. Since the distance from the fulcrum 18 of the lever iii to the roll 80 is considerably less than the distance from the fulcrum 'lBto the roll 92, it may appear that the advancing and closing movements imparted to the wipers by action of the projection 86 upon the roll til will be greater than the movements imparted to the wipers by the same projection acting solely upon the roll 52 when it is adjusted close to the cam to receive the entire effect of the projection 8'6 to the exclusion of the roll Gil. As a matter of fact, however, with the construction disclosed substantially the same advancing and closing movement is imparted to the wipers whether the roll Eiil is employed to the exclusion of the roll 92 or whether the roll 92 is employed to the exclusion of the roll till. The reason for this will be readily seen by considering the relation of the path of the center of the roll 8!! about its center 16 to a radius of the cam extended through the center of the roll 8% and the relation of the path of the roll 92 about its center it to a radius of the cam extended through the center of the roll 92. In the first instance it will be seen that the path of the cam roll 8B is nearly parallel to the radius passing through the center of the roll while the path of the cam roll 90 is at a very substantial angle to the radius passing through the center of the roll Thus, the path through which the center of the cam roll 90 is moved by the projection 86 is enough longer than the path through which the center of the cam roll 86 moves when acted upon by the same projection to offset the greater distance of the cam roll 92 from the center l8 about which it moves, and the amount of advancing and closing movement of the wipers will be substantially the same Whether the roll 80 or the roll 92 is employed solely to produce that inovement. It is to be noted, however, that when the roll 92 is employed to the exclusion of the roll 89, a greater angular movement of the projection 86 is required to produce he entire advancing and closing movement of the wipers than when the roll 8!; is employed to the exclusion of the roll 92.

In the illustrated machine the cam track 85 is so constructed that, while the projection 86 is acting either on the roll 92 or on the roll 5% to effect advancing and closing movements of the wipers, the roll 53 will be in a portion of the cam track Hi which is concentric with the shaft 12. Thus heightwise movement of the shoe support does not occur during such movements of the wipers. Stated more in detail, during the first 70 degrees of angular clockwise movement of the cam block Hi from the starting position shown. the cam track it moves the roll 58 to the right to operate the toggle 52, 5 3 to raise the work support to cause the upper to be shaped over the toe portion of the shoe. At this time the projection 86 is about to act on the roll 92 if that roll is adusted into operative position. Then for about 30 degrees the cam path 96 is concentric with the shaft. causing the heightwise movement of the shoe support to cease while the projection 86 is acting to move the roll 92. Then for about 15 degrees while the projection 85 is approaching the roll 80 the cam track 16 continues to move the shoe support upwardly, pausing again for 30 degrees while the projection 86 is acting to move the roll 80. Then after the closing of the wipers the cam iii acts to complete the straightening of the toggle to apply the final pressure to the outturned flange of the upper and the projecting margin of the sole, the machine of course stopping at this point, after about 186 degrees of rotation of the cam M, with the shoe under pressure.

The machine is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with a plurality of pairs of pincer jaws 95, a pair being located at each corner of the toe and at each side of the toe, the pincers being located below the wipers in position to engage the outspread margin of the upper when the shoe is introduced into the machine. The construction and operation of such pincers is fully disclosed in the Baxter Patent No. 1,955,730. The initial closing movement of the pincers is effected by depression of the treadle 32 which is connected by a rod 98 to a lever Hill fulcrumed on the lower portion of the shaft 46 at H32 and having a lost-motion connection to links H34 by a pin l 86 to which the fulcrum may be shifted when the shaft 16 is operated by power. The rear end of the lever Hill is connected through springs I88 to the lower jaws of the pincers it so that when the treadle is depressed the pincers will be closed upon the work at the same time that the abutment 66 is brought into engagement with the shoe. As in the prior construction, it is desirable to withdraw the pincer jaws from between the wipers iii and the work support to before they become pinched therebetween by the upward pressure of the work support. This is effected by a lever i it pivoted at 18 and having on its lower arm a roll H2 engaging an edge cam li t and mounted to rotate with the clutch disk I l. The upper arm of the lever H6 is connected by a link lit to the mechanism by which the pincers are carried. The cam H4 operates to swing the lever H5 counterclockwise to effect bodily withdrawal of the corner pincers and rotation of the side pincers to carry them away from the shoe at a time to avoid the pincers being caught between the wipers ill and the work support 453. Since the construction and mounting of the pincers is clearly disclosed in the last-mentioned patent, it is not necessary to present further details of the construction.

It is desirable, in conjunction with the treadleeifected operation of the abutment 68 and the pincers 96 to apply pressure to the shoe upper in the vicinity of the tip line to hold it firmly clamped against the last during the lasting op eration, that is, during the operation of the wiper ill and the pincers 93, so as to prevent the combined action of the pincers and wipers or either of them from so pulling the upper longitudinally that it will bridge between the toe and the throat of the vamp. Once this bridging has occurred it is ineifective to press the upper against the last and difficult to apply sufiicient tension to draw it down to the wood again. In the illustrated construction, however, the upper is firmly clamped to the last prior to the operation of the pincers and wipers or either of them so that the upper has no opportunity to become bridged and hence after the lasting operation the upper remains tightly against the last. A pad iZfi is arranged to be moved vertically against the toe portion of the upper, the initial portion of the movement of the treadle 32 being utilized to effect this operation. The pad F26 is mounted on the lower end of a stem I22 which extends upwardly through a member Hi l. Mounted on the stem 22 is a 00211- pression spring 26 the initial tension of which may be adjusted by moving a collar 528 up and down on the stem, the spring being arranged yieldingly to oppose upward movement of the pad 520. Bodily vertical adjustment of the pad 52%? relatively to the shoe without affecting the ten sion of the spring lEE may be efiectecl by rotating the head I30.

The member 2 5 is pivoted at i252 to an arm I34 to permit swinging movement of the pad I28 longitudinally of the shoe, and its position forwardly of the shoe is a-djustably determined by a screw I36 threaded through a projection on the member i2 3 and engaging a surface formed on the arm HQ. The arm liifi is mounted for move- Inent about a vertical axis on a vertically movable rack bar E38. A reduced portion of the bar 38 extends through a vertical bore in the arm I342 upon which it is held by a nut i i-0. Above the nut is a further reduced cylindrical portion 2 :12 of the bar its which is guided in a suitable bearing formed in a bracket secured to the frame, in which the rack bar 533 mounted. The rack bar E33 is normally maintained in an elevated position by a compression spring (not shown) located between t.1e lower end of the bar I36 and the fixed part of the frame of the machine. The rack bar I38 is en aged by a pinion M6 fixed to a shaft M8 on which is an arm i59. The construction above described relating to the toe pressing pad 52b and its mounting is sub" stantially similar to that more fully described in an application for Letters Patent of the United States Serial No. 21,597 filed of even date here with in the name of J. C. Cantley.

In the present construction the arm 159 car ries a roll l52. A cam member sea is pivoted on a shaft i555 below shaft Hi8 and is located between two threaded lugs 558, see formed on a lever 552 also pivoted on the shaft lES and having a forward projection ifi l carrying a stop screw to limit its clockwise movement. Adjusting screws threaded through the lug i158, I68

engage the cam niem er l54 and serve as means for adjusting the cam member relatively to the lever 52. Pivoted at i523 to the lever N52 is a bar or red ill-5 having near its lower end a hook to engage a pin carried by a lever H2. The lever H2 has slotted ears spaced to receive the bifurcated forward end of a lever ll i pivoted at llfi to the machine frame and connected by a rod H8 to the treadle A pin passes through the slotted ears on the lever hi3, through the bifurcated end of the lever EM and through the lower end of a link i812 the upper end of which is conn cted by a link fill to the upper arm of a lever pivoted at the lower arm of which carries a screw lQS engaging the bar W3. Fulcruined E82 to a bracket is a lever 5% which at its "ear end is connected at 558 by a i l The pivot 933 of the lever F5536 is a rearward extension of the bracket and a torsion spring 2522 tends to turn the lever we in a clockwise direction, thus urging the bar i 38 toward the pin ilil. On the e is a in which cooperates with a node-like recess in the link 5813. The on f the link EB longitudinally and connected by a pin 2% to the upper end of the link E82, the in being maintained at the rear end of the slot by a tension spring 2%?) conn cted between. pin and the le er The wiper lever provided with a lug 252 through which is threaded a screw 2M position to the bar lfil when the wipers are operated and. swing the bar forwardly to disengage it from the pin As the bar 168 swings forwardly presses on the screw 59% on the lower arm of the lever 52% and swings the lever counterclockwise. The action of the niechanism may now best be explained by starting at the beginning with the depression of the treadlc. Depression of the treadle 32 acts through the treadle rod to bring the abutment against the shoe and to operate the lever HES to bring tl cars into operative position. This occurs during the sion of the pin la?) in the otted ears of the lever E without moving the .5. Further depression of the treadle then swings the lever l7! to operate the toe presse this motion occurring of course before t're tri -ping of the clutch to start the machine. As the lever H2 is swung counterclockwise by the motion. of the treadle he pin Til pulls downwardly on the bar 96 3, causing the lever id? to turn counter clockwise about its "3 and the canniber 555 to engage the i on the arm 552, thus moving the arm In clockwise direction to operate the pin and depress he rack bar 38 to press the pad upon the sh the spring 23 yielding to p,ri..iit such movement or the rack bar. When the flat top face of the cam member i5 1 moves lor the roll iZEl becomes locl d in operative reverse movement of the lever l c cquired to release it. During the coun erclockwise movement of the lever 5 2 the link eta: swings the lever lab in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot H92, causing 3 orward end or ying the pin to assume the ott 'l line pooon shown in which the pin opposite the upper portion or" the link i v" ch, during depression of the treadle. has movfi downwardly, the recess 256 being then of course below the pin 2%. When the operator releases the treadle, the link H32 will move upwardly, bringing the recess 2655 above the pin 24% and, when the wipers are operated, the screw 2M will swing the bar E33 forwardly,

on and a E"? the presser r engaging the screw I and swinging the lever H86 in a counterclockwise direction, causing the link I184 to swing the link I82 rearwardly and bring the recess 2% over the pin 2%, the machine stopping with the parts in this position. When the treadle is depressed the second time to cause it to complete its cycle and release the shoe, the link E82 will pull downwardly on the pin 2%, turning the lever Hit in a clockwise direction, thereby pushing upwardly on the link Zllfl and efiecting clockwise movement of the lever N52 to release the cam I54 from the roll I52, thus allowing the rack bar M8 to rise and lift the pad I2il away from the shoe.

Should the operator fail to release the treadle prior to the action of the wipers in the first half cycle of the machine, the movement of the lever E86 effected by the wiper lever is would merely pull the link I82 against the pin 2%, the spring till then being stretched to permit completion of the movement of the lever lfifi. Upon release of the treadle after the machine stops, the link H82 will move upwardly and the recess 2% will be swung into position over the pin M6 by the tension of the spring are ready for operation as described upon the second depression of the treadle.

The rear end abutment i6 is carried by a support 2 it for the rear end of the shoe which is adjustable heightwise for heels of difierent heights by means of a screw 2 i ii threaded through the bracket 64 and engaging a member 2126 upon which the support 2&6 is mounted. The member 2263 is pivoted on a pin 222 which is secured in a rocker member 222 6, and secured to the pin is a pointer 226 which cooperates with a graduated scale 228 secured to the member 220. Thus, the operator is able accurately to determine the proper adjustment of the support 2 I B heightwise of the shoe effected by the screw 2H3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for lasting the toe portion of a stitchdown shoe, the combination of end-embracing wipers, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the sole including its projecting marginal portion, power-operated means for effecting relative movement of the endembracing means and the shoe support heightwise of the shoe to shape the upper about the last and to press its marginal portion against the pro jecting margin of the sole, said means being constructed and arranged to stop with the marginal portions of the shoe under pressure, a treadle for controlling said power-operated means, means for pressing the upper against the forepart of the last to prevent bridging of the upper between the toe and throat of the vamp of the upper, and means operated by the treadle for releasing the pressure on the forepart of the last and subsequently releasing the pressure upon the marginal portion of the shoe and sole.

2. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the shoe sole including its projecting marginal portion, poweroperated means for effecting relativemovement of the end-embracing wipers and the shoe support heightwise of the shoe to shape the upper about the last and to press its marginal portion against the projecting margin of the sole, manually operated means for controlling said power-operated means and causing it to stop with the shoe under pressure, means operated by sald'manually operated means forpressing the shoe upper against the last in the vicinity of the tip line before the relative heightwise movement between the wipers and the shoe support begins, and means operated by said manually operated means for releasing the pressure on the shoe upper and subsequently causing operation of said power-operated means to cause reverse relative movement between the wipers and the shoe support to release the shoe.

3. In a machine for lasting the toe portion of a stitchdown shoe, the combination of end-embracing wipers, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the sole including its projecting marginal portion, power-operated means for effecting movement of the shoe support heightwise of the shoe to shape the upper about the last and to press its marginal portion against the projecting margin of the sole, said means being constructed and arranged to stop with the marginal portions of the shoe under pressure, a treadle for controlling said power-operated means, means operated by the treadle for pressing the upper against the forepart of the last to prevent bridging of the upper between the toe and the throat of the vamp of the upper, said treadle acting later to cause operation of said power-operated means, and means operated by a second depression of the treadle for releasing the pressure on the forepart of the last and subsequently causing the power-operated means to move the shoe support reversely.

4. In a machine for lasting the toe portion of a stitchdown shoe, the combination of a shoe support constructed and arranged to receive the bottom of a shoe presented right side up and to support the sole of the shoe including the projecting margin of the sole, pincers located in position to engage the margin of the upper, power-operated means for closing the pincers and for relatively operating the pincers and the shoe support to tension the upper, a treadle depressible to initiate said power operation, means operated by the treadle for pressing the upper against the forepart of the last whereby move-- ment of the upper relatively to the last is prevented during the action of the pincers, and means operated by a second depression of the treadle for releasing the pressure on the forepart.

5. In a machine for lasting the toe portion of a stitchdown shoe, the combination of end-embracing wipers constructed and arranged for advancing and closing movements, a shoe support constructed and arranged to receive the bottom of a shoe presented right side up to the wipers and to support the sole of the shoe including the projecting margin of the sole, pincers located beneath the wipers in position to engage the margin of the upper, power-operated means for closing the pincers and for relatively operating the wipers and the shoe support to tension the upper, a treadle depressible to initiate said power operation, means operated by the treadle for pressing the upper against the forepart of the last whereby movement of the upper relatively to the last is prevented during the action of the pincers and wipers inlasting the upper, means for advancing and closing the wipers substantially at the termination of the upward movement of the support, and means operated by a second depression of the treadle for releasing the pressure on the forepart and for thereafter causing the power-operated means relatively to move the wipers and shoe support to release the shoe.

' 6. In a-lasting machine, the combination of end-embracing wipers, a wiper lever, a power-operated cam for operating the wiper lever at a predetermined time in the cycle of the machine, an extension on the wiper lever, and means for locating the extension in position to engage the cam to cause action of the cam upon the wiper lever to occur at a different time in the cycle of the machine.

7. In a lasting machine, the combination of end-embracing wipers, a wiper lever, a powercperated cam for operating the wiper lever at a predetermined time in the cycle of the machine, an extension on the wiper lever, and means for locating the extension in engagement with the cam to cause action of the cam upon the wiper lever to occur earlier in the cycle of the machine.

8. In a lasting machine, the combination of end-embracing wipers, a wiper lever, a power-operated cam for operating the wiper lever at a predetermined time in the cycle of the machine, an extension on the wiper lever normally inoperative by the cam, and means for adjusting the extension toward the cam to cause part of the action of the cam upon the wiper lever to occur prior to said predetermined time.

9. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last, means for effecting relative movement between the end-embracing wipers and the shoe support heightwise of the shoe to shape the upper about the last, means for effecting operation of the wipers substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement, and means operable at will for causing operation of the wipers prior to the completion of said relative heightwise movement.

10. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last, means for effecting relative movement between the end-embracing wipers and the shoe support heightwise of the shoe to shape the upper about the last, means for effecting advancing movement of the wipers sub stantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement, and means operable at will for causing part of the movement of the wipers to occur prior to the completion of said relative heightwise movement.

11. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last, means for efiecting relative movement between the end-embracing wipers and the shoe support heightwise of the shoe to shape the upper about the last, means for effecting operative movement of the wipers substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement, and means operable at will for causing part of the movement of the wipers to occur prior to the completion of said relative heightwise movement, the remainder, of the operative movement occurring at the termination of said relative heightwise movement.

12. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers arranged for advancing and closing movements, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the shoe sole including its projecting marginal portion, poweroperated means for effecting relative movement heightwise of the shoe between the wipers and the shoe support to shape the upper to the last and to press its marginal portion against the projecting margin of the sole, power-operated means for advancing and closing the wipers substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement, and means arranged to be rendered operative at the will of the operator for causing part or all of said advancing and closing movement of the wipers to occur earlier in the cycle and prior to the termination of said relative heightwise movement.

13. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers arranged for advancing and closing movements, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the shoe sole including its projecting marginal portion, power-operated means for effecting relative movement heightwise of the shoe between the wipers and the shoe support to shape the upper to the last and to press its marginal portion against the projecting margin of the sole, poweroperated means including a cam and lever for advancing and closing the Wipers substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement, and an extension on said lever arranged to be rendered operative by said cam at the will of the operator for causing part or all of said advancing and closing movement of the wipers to occur earlier in the cycle and prior to the termination of said relative heightwise movement.

14. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers arranged for advancing and closing movements, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the shoe sole 5 including its projecting marginal portion, powercperated means for effecting relative movement heightwise of the shoe between the wipers and the shoe support to shape the upper to the last and to press its marginal portion against the projecting margin of the sole, power-operated cam means for advancing and closing the wipers substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement, and means arranged to be adjusted into position to be operated by said cam means for causing part of said advancing and closing movements of the wipers to occur earlier in the cycle and prior to the termination of said relative heightwise movement, said cam acting later in the cycle to complete the wiper movements.

15. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers arranged for advancing and closing movements, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the shoe sole including its projecting marginal portion, power-operated means for efiecting relative movement heightwise of the shoe between the wipers and the shoe support to shape the upper to the last, means .for advancing and closing the wipers prior to the completion of said relative heightwise movement to conform the upper to lasts the sides of which overhang the last bottom, and means for completing said advancing and closing movements substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement to tuck the upper under the last bottom.

16. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers arranged for advancing and closing movements, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the shoe sole including its projecting marginal portion, poweroperated means for efiecting relative movement ill) heightwise of the shoe between the wipers and the shoe support to shape the upper to the last and press its marginal portion against the projecting margin of the sole, power-operated cam means for advancing and closing the wipers substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement, and means arranged to be adjusted into position to be operated by said cam means for causing a part of said advancing and closing movement of the wipers to occur prior to the termination of said relative heightwise movement to cause the wipers to conform the upper to the side of the last which is undercut, said cam acting later in the cycle to complete the wiper movements substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement to tuck the upper under the last bottom.

17. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers arranged for advancing and closing movements, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the shoe sole including its projecting marginal portion,

power-operated means for effecting relative movement heightwise of the shoe between the wipers and the shoe support to shape the upper to the last, said means being constructed and arranged to effect said movement in a succession of steps with pauses between said steps, means for advancing and closing the wipers prior to the completion of said relative heightwise movement during one of said pauses to conform the upper to lasts the sides of which overhang the last bottom, and. means for completing said advancing and closing movements during another pause substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement to tuck the upper under the last bottom.

18. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers arranged for advancing and closing movements, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the shoe sole including its projecting marginal portion, poweroperated means for effecting relative movement heightwise of the shoe between the wipers and the shoe support to shape the upper to the last and press its marginal portion against the projecting margin of the sole, power-operated cam means for advancing and closing the wipers substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement, and means arranged to be adjusted into position to be operated by said cam means for causing a part of said advancing and closing movement of the wipers to occur prior to the termination of said relative heightwise movement to cause the wipers to conform the upper to the side of the last which is undercut, said cam acting later in the cycle to complete the wiper movements substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement and said cam having concentric portions to cause relative heightwise movement between the wipers and the shoe support to cease while the wipers are being operated.

19. In a machine for shaping the end portion of a stitchdown shoe to its last, the combination of end-embracing wipers arranged for advancing and closing movements, a shoe support to receive the shoe and last and to support the shoe sole including its projecting marginal portion, poweroperated means for effecting relative movement heightwise of the shoe between the wipers and the shoe support to shape the upper to the last and press its marginal portion against the projecting margin of the sole, power-operated cam means for advancing and closing the wipers substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement, a roll movable into position to be operated by said cam means for causing a part of said advancing and closing movement of the wipers to occur prior to the termination of said relative heightwise movement to cause the wipers to conform the upper to the side of the last which is undercut, means for moving the roll into position to be operated by said cam, and an indicator movable in proportion to said adjustment to indicate the operative position of the roll with respect to the cam, said cam acting later in the cycle to complete the wiper movements substantially at the termination of said relative heightwise movement.

FRANCIS J. BETTER. 

